Hardware Input and Output

How RAM is Measured

RAM is measured in bytes. A computer byte is a measure of data storage that consists of eight bits. There are kilobytes (1,000 bytes), megabytes (1 million bytes), gigabytes (1 billion bytes) and terabytes (1 trillion bytes). Modern computers run best with at least 4 gigabytes (GB) of random access memory. Computers running Windows 7 need a minimum of 1 GB to run well. If a computer does not have enough RAM (which usually results in the computer running slowly), the RAM component can be upgraded to one with more bytes.

Advancements in technology often make computer hardware and software more convenient to use as well as able to fit a variety of budgets. As technology advances, it usually gets

smaller and less expensive

Which of the following are input devices commonly used on a computer?

keyboard mouse

Input Devices

Input devices are hardware that send data to a computer. These types of data could be text, sound (audio), or video (visual). Input hardware translates user activity into data that the computer can interpret. There are common and less common input devices. Common input devices are the keyboard and mouse. Less common input devices are things like microphones, scanners, and webcams.

1). A keyboard, mouse, and microphone are examples of 2).A is an input device used to display video for video conferencing. 3).A is an input device that responds to finger touch.

1). input devices 2). webcam 3). touchscreen

Advancements in Technology: Memory

As technology advances, it gets smaller and less expensive. This makes sense because the computer would not have become so popular if it had remained at 1981 prices "Prediction: The cost for 128 kilobytes of memory will fall below $100 in the near future." - Creative Computing magazine, December 1981 This prediction came true. Today you can buy a 1 gigabyte (GB) USB drive of RAM for about $20. At the cost of $100 for 128 kilobytes of memory today, a standard 1 GB USB drive of RAM would cost you $209,715,200.

Historical Perspective of Computer Storage

Computer storage was not always small and portable. The first disk drive was 6 feet tall, 2 feet wide, had a total storage capacity of 5 MB, and cost thousands of dollars. Not only were hard drives extremely large and immobile, they were generally not standard equipment for personal computer use. At the start of the 1980s, hard drives were rare, expensive, and not part of any personal computer. First-generation computers did not have internal hard drives for storage. IBM developed the first computer with a hard drive. By the start of the 1990s, hard drives were standard on all computers. The storage capacity was only 10 MB. For comparison, 10 MB today would be the equivalent of approximately 12 digital pictures.

Storage Hardware

In order to save information permanently, you need to store it on a storage device. Examples of storage devices include: Internal hard drive: the main storage device inside a computer where programs and files are saved External hard drive: a portable device to store all types of files, such as photos, movies, and music Flash drive or USB drive: a small-scale portable version of an external hard drive Optical drive: the disk drive in or attached to a computer that reads CDs or DVDs - uses electromagnetic waves to read or write data from inserted CDs or DVDs Optical drives are becoming more obsolete as storage devices because internal and external hard drives are very inexpensive and much faster.

Random Access Memory

Random access memory (RAM) is a piece of computer hardware that temporarily stores information when software is being used. RAM is inherently unstable and needs continuous power to hold data RAM is significant to a computer's operation because it allows multiple applications or software programs to be run simultaneously. A computer with insufficient RAM will have difficulty running current software programs that require more RAM.

The CPU is located on what part of the computer? the motherboard

What are the most important considerations when comparing computer systems? computer speed amount of storage

Which of the following storage devices are portable? external hard drive flash drive

Which key hardware component was typically not included in first-generation personal computers? internal hard drive

Connecting to Monitors and Game Devices

Wires and ports connect devices to a computer. If you do not have the right port on your computer, you will not be able to use the device. Older monitors connected to the computer use a video graphics array (VGA) port. A VGA port is the commercial standard port to connect a screen to a computer. A VGA port has a trapezoidal shape with 15 holes. Newer LCD monitors, DVD, Blu-ray, and projectors connect using digital video interface (DVI) ports. A DVI port is used to convert a digital image or video input directly into a high-quality digital output on a screen, television, or other visual output device.

1). printer works by spraying ink onto paper. 2). use a laser beam and static electricity to transfer words and images to paper. 3).are primarily business printers because they produce high-quality printed material and are expensive to purchase. 4). Laser printers use a special powdered ink called

1). inkjet 2). laser printer 3). laser printer 4). toner

1.What is the primary function of RAM? 2.What is the basic unit of measurement for RAM specs? 3.A computer with sufficient RAM will be able to with greater ease 4.What can you do if a computer is running slowly and you suspect it is because you have insufficient RAM? 5.How many bits are in one computer byte?

1. Stores information temporarily 2.byte 3.switch between applications 4.upgrade the RAM 5. 8

1. Computer speed is measured in . 2. The computer processor speed is 4.5 GHz, which means the processor performs at 4.5 machine cycles per second. 3. The CPU is responsible for

1. hertz 2. billion 3.controlling all computer functions

Computer Architecture

A computer is a system of many parts working together. Computer architecture is the organization of the parts that make up a computer system. Computer architecture is made up of core components and additional components.

A computer screen that is contained in its own case and is not part of the computer system is called a monitor

A high-resolution screen has More pixels

Common Input Devices: Keyboard and Mouse

A keyboard and mouse are almost always included with a new computer purchase. The keyboard is used to input text into a computer. Each key or combination of keys pressed on the keyboard sends an electrical signal to the computer (in the form of binary numbers 0 or 1). Binary is a number system in base 2, where all numbers are represented as digits 0 and 1. The computer interprets binary as a series of "on" and "off" cues, and performs actions accordingly. The mouse uses the same binary commands as a keyboard. There are two types of computer mice: optical (which uses a laser to detect movement) and trackball (which uses the movement of a ball to detect movement). Computer mice are used to interact with the computer screen.

Connecting Devices Using Ports

A port is an interface between computer devices. The USB (Universal Serial Bus) port is the most common type of port. It offers a fast transfer rate. A USB port has a rectangular shape with a bar inside. An icon appears next to USB ports and looks like a circle attached to an arrow and two line segments branching off - one with a circle, the other with a square. FireWire ports (also called IEEE1394 interface ports) offer a very fast connection. They are typically used for audio/video output. A FireWire port looks like a six-sided polygonwith a bar in the middle. An icon may appear next to FireWire ports that looks like a circle with two parallel lines beneath and to the side, and a square off to the upper right

Using Ports for Network Connectivity

Computers have other ports called connectivity ports. These ports are used to get a hard-wired connection to the Internet and other networks. Two types of connectivity ports are Ethernet and modem ports. Ethernet ports offer a very high-speed connection. They are typically used to connect to a network like cable or DSL. Ethernet ports look like a rectangle stacked with two smaller rectangles. An icon appears next to Ethernet ports and looks like a line connected to one box on top and two boxes on the bottom. Modem ports are used in traditional dial-up phone access. They are very slow and are not often used anymore. Modem ports look similar to Ethernet ports, except they are not as wide. If an icon is present, it is in the shape a phone receiver.

Output Devices: Inkjet Printers

Inexpensive inkjet printers are generally used in the home. They work by spraying ink onto the paper. The initial cost of an inkjet printer is typically very low compared to a laser printer, but the cost of purchasing new ink cartridges and paper designed specifically for inkjet printers can make these printers just as costly as laser printers over time. Compared to laser printers, inkjet printers are superb at printing high-quality photos. Inkjet printers can also print on different materials such as fabric, special stationery, and sometimes even CDs or DVDs. Inkjet printers can be purchased conveniently as all-in-one printers that combine a printer, fax machine, scanner, and copier in one device.

Output Devices: Laser Printers

Laser printers are more expensive than inkjet printers. They are typically only used by businesses. Laser printers use laser beams and static electricity to lay toner (powdered ink) onto the paper. Heat "bakes" the ink onto the paper, making it permanent. Pages printed by laser printers are of a higher quality than those printed with inkjet. Laser printers are also capable of printing pages very quickly. They are especially useful for high-volume projects, where hundreds or thousands of pages of paper need to be printed in a short period of time.

Less Common Output Devices

Less common output devices typically not included with the purchase of a computer are Projectors: use projected light to throw a computer screen image onto a wall Braille embossers: translate text into braille 3D printers: create a 3D object from a digital file

Screen Resolution

Monitors and displays come in many sizes and levels of image quality. To select the correct one for you, it is important to think about what you want to view. Standard word processing, web browsing, and e-mail have less need for high resolution or a large screen area than a video game or photo manipulation application.High resolution means there are more pixels per square inch.

Computer Storage Today

New computers today come equipped with approximately 500 GB to 1 terabyte (TB) of storage space. If you want more space, hard drives equipped with 4 TB are available. To help you visualize how much 500 GB of storage can hold, consider the following: 500 GB can hold approximately 25,000 songs, 1.8 million pictures, or 1,500 full-length movies The cost for 500 GB of space is approximately $70. If you double that amount of storage, you end up with one thousand GB, or 1 TB. Computer storage technology has advanced even more with portable storage devices. You can carry memory on the go on thumb drives and external hard drives. Thumb drives are portable USB drives, or flash drives, that are about the size of your finger and can hold up to 256 GB. External hard drives are larger than thumb drives, but some can fit in the palm of your hand. They range in capacity from 500 GB to 2 TB.

Common Output Devices

Output devices take computer data and translate it into visual and auditory signals that humans can interpret. Output devices send processed data out of the computer in various forms. Common output devices include: Monitor or display: shows text, graphics, and video on the screen Printers: allow a user to create a paper copy of what is on the screen Speakers or earphones: allow a user to hear sound

Output Devices for Sound

Speakers come in various levels of quality, from inexpensive to surround-sound quality. Inexpensive speakers are suitable for web surfing and video conferencing. Surround-sound speakers are used for multimedia viewing and listening to music.

Processing Power: The CPU

The CPU (central processing unit), housed on the motherboard, is the processing and control center of the computer. The CPU is responsible for taking input and translating that into the correct output. Consequently, the CPU controls all computer functions. For example, when you move your mouse, the CPU is responsible for translating that into movement of the cursor or pointer on the screen. The first microprocessors (CPUs) were used commercially in handheld calculators and could only process a few mathematical calculations at a time. Today's CPUs can process over 50 billion tasks per second. This allows people to use applications like word processors, browse the Internet, and listen to music

Additional Components

The additional components of a computer are the keyboard, mouse, microphone, and scanner, among other peripherals. These are usually external components. The keyboard is a system of keys used to send text and other input to a computer. The mouse is an electronic device external to a computer and operated by hand; it is used to move the cursor on a computer screen. A microphone is an electronic device that records sound. A scanner is an electronic device that captures a copy of an image or document and then transmits it to a compute

Core Components

The core components of a computer are the CPU, RAM, ROM, I/O ports, and system bus. These are called the system architecture of a computer. The CPU, or central processing unit, is the processing and control center of the computer. It controls all tasks that go on in a computer; it takes inputs and turns them into outputs. RAM (random access memory) is computer hardware that temporarily stores information when software is being used. ROM, or read-only memory, makes up a small portion of the computer's memory. It is typically used for specific functions and cannot be modified. The I/O port is a physical plug-in point on a computer that can be used for inputting data and outputting information. The system bus is an electrical route on a computer that transfers information between core components, such as the CPU, motherboard, and RAM. "Bus" is a good name for what it does - it transports information. The motherboard is the primary circuit board in a computer.

The Motherboard

The motherboard is a large circuit board that contains all electronic components for data processing. It is located inside the computer case. Several other components are connected to the motherboard, including the CPU, RAM, and video and sound cards. The motherboard is considered the piece of hardware that makes all computer components function together. The microprocessor - or CPU - is where computer processing occurs. It is located on the motherboard.

Processing Speed

The speed of a CPU is measured in hertz (Hz), which is defined as machine cycles per second. A machine cycle is the process of getting instructions from RAM, decoding them for the computer to understand, executing the instructions, and then storing the result back to memory. Computers today run at speeds in gigahertz (GHz), or billions of machine cycles per second. When buying a computer, check the processor speed. A 4.5 GHz processor means it can perform 4.5 billion machine cycles per second - the higher the number, the faster the processor

Connecting to Monitors and Game Devices (Continued)

There are many varieties of HDMI ports, but generally they are longer than VGA ports with several square-shaped holes. High-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) ports offer a very fast connection. This type of port carries high-definition video and audio in one connection. An HDMI port is a six-sided polygon with a bar in the middle. The text "HDMI" appears beside or above the port.

Less Common Input Devices

There are several other less-common hardware components that are not usually included with a new computer system, but instead are sold separately. However, many computers are beginning to include webcams as standard equipment These less common input devices include: Microphones: to capture sound Digital cameras: to capture images and videos Scanners: to capture images or text Tablet stylus: touch pad allows user to draw; tap commands act like a mouse to control applications Touchscreens: a display that responds to finger touch; used in public kiosks, ATM machines, and mobile devices like smartphones and tablet PCs Webcams: allows image and video capture and transfer; highly popular due to video conferencing applications and distance learning

Comparing Computer Systems

When buying a new computer system, there are important aspects to pay attention to first and foremost. There are also less important considerations. More important considerations are things like how fast the computer is and how much storage it has. These considerations fall under an umbrella called computer specifications - the measurement of how well a computer will perform. Less important considerations usually include things like the type of keyboard and the type of mouse.

How Monitors and Displays Work

When contained in its own case and not built into a computer system, the monitor is the visual output hardware. When part of a computing system, such as an all-in-one computer or laptop, it is referred to as a display. The monitor or display provides instant visual feedback by showing text and graphic images as you work or play a game. Monitor and display screens show images using millions of dots called pixels. Pixels illuminate to create the images or text

Computer A: 2.6 GHz processor 512 GB hard drive 8 GB RAM Computer B: 2.4 GHz processor 650 GB hard drive 6 GB RAM Which computer system has a better processor? A

Which computer system has more internal memory? B Which computer has better RAM? A

The processing and control center of the computer is the central processing unit

Which of the following components transfers information between other core components? system bus Remember that the system bus acts like a bus - it transports information between core components of the computer

Which of the following ports offers a fast connection that could be used to download and watch your favorite TV shows? Firewire

Which of the following ports is the most common on computers? USB

Which output device allows a user to create a copy of what is on the screen? printer

Which output device would a teacher use to show a movie to the class? speakers projector

What is the basic port used to connect a computer to a screen? VGA port

Which port carries high-definition video and audio in one connection? HDMI port